Survivors of the Holocaust
University Medallion Recipients, 2024
The presentation of the University Medallion coincided with the 30th anniversary year of the USC Shoah Foundation.
On March 25, 2024, USC President Carol Folt presented the University Medallion to the survivors of the Shoah. This was the first time in seven years that the medallion had been awarded. At the event, President Folt gave special recognition to those 56,000 Holocaust survivors whose bravery and fortitude will live forever through their testimonies at the USC Shoah Foundation. She also asked that we honor the legacies of the millions who were unable to share their stories.
In her remarks that day, President Folt quoted one survivor who said: “It is my duty to speak for six million.” Then, she added: “It is our duty to ensure your voices are heard by six billion.”
The Shoah Foundation has collected and safeguarded these personal histories since 1994, creating an archive that continues to touch hearts and minds around the world. In preserving the survivors’ voices, the foundation contributes to the established historical record of the Holocaust by spreading truth, dispelling myths, and educating generation after generation.
As the Shoah Foundation has continued to expand its mission of education and research, it has brought together more diverse cultures and communities, and has found additional opportunities to discover our shared humanity. Its educational initiatives have changed the lives of people around the world – including countless teachers and students – and helped them develop tools to transform hatred and bigotry into compassion and understanding.
This presidential recognition also reflects the university’s profound gratitude to longtime trustee Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, for their foresight in creating the Shoah Foundation. Their deeply personal mission has become a sacred gift to all humankind, and we are humbled by the trust they have placed in USC as the foundation’s permanent home. Our appreciation extends to the many supporters and staff of the Shoah Foundation over the years, dedicated caretakers who tirelessly carry out our pledge to preserve these histories in perpetuity.